Author: Katie Taranto

Katie Taranto is a reporter at ALXnow. She previously covered local businesses at ARLnow and K-12 education at The Columbia Missourian. She is originally from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Boone, a playful puppy ‘sure to bring sunshine to your life’

By Katie Taranto
Boone (courtesy of Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Boone, a puppy from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria who just experienced his first snow with his foster home as he awaits a forever family.

The 7-month-old Boone weighs about 32 pounds and still has some growing to do. He would love a buddy who can take him on walks or hikes and give him enriching activities, like food puzzles. He “is sure to bring sunshine to your life through his playful puppy energy,” wrote a volunteer at AWLA.

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JUST IN: ACPS continues virtual learning Friday, as officials monitor weekend forecast

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria crews continue to work on snow and ice removal (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Public Schools students will round out this snowy week with another day of synchronous virtual learning tomorrow (Friday).

ACPS facilities will continue to remain closed, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced this afternoon. ACPS is “monitoring the weather forecast for this weekend and will provide an update on Sunday by 6 p.m.,” Kay-Wyatt said.

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Alexandria temporarily suspends sidewalk enforcement while ‘Snow Buddy’ requests rise

By Katie Taranto
Sage Goyda and son participate in the Snow Buddy Program (courtesy of Volunteer Alexandria)

Alexandria has temporarily suspended its sidewalk-clearing requirements but is encouraging residents to help clear snow across the city, as the Snow Buddy Program is experiencing an uptick in assistance requests this week.

The city typically requires residents, businesses and property owners to clear sidewalks, driveways and entrances within 24 to 72 hours after snowfall, but enforcement is on pause, according to a city announcement this afternoon (Thursday). This comes as Volunteer Alexandria’s snow removal initiative has seen at least 25 new applications for help over the past few days.

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Around Town

Empty Bowls Alexandria returns next month amid increased demand for services

By Katie Taranto
Pottery bowls at Empty Bowls 2025 (via ALIVE!/Facebook)

The annual Empty Bowls Alexandria event is returning next month as host ALIVE! says demands for food, housing and emergency financial assistance are on the rise.

In its ninth year, the historically sold-out event brings local restaurants and artisans together to fundraise for the nonprofit’s efforts to address food and housing insecurity. The event comes as ALIVE! has weathered the region’s economic losses over the past year, with requests for support up roughly 30% since the fall, spokesperson Grace Terlinden told ALXnow.

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New memorial on Alexandria’s waterfront will honor 67 victims of fatal midair crash

By Katie Taranto
On Feb. 5, 2025, locals in Alexandria gather at a vigil for the 67 victims of the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision over the Potomac River (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A new memorial in Alexandria will honor the lives of the 67 people killed in last year’s midair collision over the Potomac River, which happened one year ago today.

A bench, newly planted trees and plaque bearing the names of the 67 victims will be installed on the Potomac waterfront on the northeastern portion of Rivergate Park, Mayor Alyia Gaskins announced last night (Wednesday) during a ceremony in D.C. honoring the victims, their families and first responders from the tragic night.

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Alexandria police investigating fatal shooting on N. Patrick Street

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that killed one man and injured a juvenile in the city yesterday (Wednesday).

According to APD, officers responded to shots fired at the 900 block of N. Patrick Street at around 6:36 p.m. and found a man “inside an apartment building suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, as well as a juvenile man with an apparent gunshot wound.”

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Alexandria trash collection returns Thursday as city offices, facilities will open

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria crews continue to work on snow and ice removal (via City of Alexandria)

Trash collection in Alexandria will begin again at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) as the city’s offices, facilities and courts are set to open with regular hours. 

If it is safe to do so, residents are instructed to place trash bins out tomorrow morning to allow snow removal crews to continue working through the night, according to a city announcement. Yard waste and compost will not be collected tomorrow, and there will not be a make-up date for missed collections since Monday. 

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JUST IN: ACPS will continue virtual work Thursday, offering free lunches at two locations

By Katie Taranto
Snowy day in Old Town, Jan. 25. 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Students and teachers at Alexandria City Public Schools will continue with synchronous virtual learning tomorrow (Thursday).

ACPS facilities will continue to remain closed, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced this afternoon. The district will also continue to distribute lunches free of charge to all kids under 18 at two school locations, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s meal waiver program.

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Early voting begins Saturday in Alexandria as registration deadline approaches

By Katie Taranto
'I voted' stickers on Election Day in Alexandria, Nov. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Deadlines are approaching for voter registration and mail-in ballot requests to participate in the Feb. 10 special election.

Early in-person voting kicks off this Saturday at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N. Royal Street, Suite 100). By-mail ballot requests must be received by the office by 5 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 30, while voter registration and updates must be completed by Tuesday, Feb. 3.

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Heavy sleet followed by refreezes hinder Alexandria’s response to ‘unprecedented’ storm

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria crews continue to work on snow and ice removal in late January 2026 (via City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria is continuing around-the-clock snow removal operations after last weekend’s winter storm brought an “unprecedented amount of sleet and freezing rain” to the region, City Manager Jim Parajon said.

The storm was “unlike anything that we’ve experienced since the mid-1990s,” Parajon told City Council last night (Tuesday) during a report on Alexandria’s snow preparedness and response efforts. Hours of freezing rain and sleet on top of the city’s 7 inches of snow had limited the effectiveness of plows.

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Alexandria reopens facilities, cancels waste collection as cold weather continues

By Katie Taranto
Snowy day at the 1600 block of King Street in Old Town, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria’s government offices and facilities are slated to reopen at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday), while waste collection has been canceled.

There will not be a make-up run for this week’s canceled trash, recycling, yard waste and composting collection, according to the City. The Alexandria Circuit Court will also remain closed for the day.

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